Chevin Forest Park

02/06/2026

This summer we will be getting together to tackle the Himalayan Balsam growing across Chevin Forest Park.

Himalayan Balsam is an invasive species that grows quickly and shades out other ground vegetation; by removing the plant each year, we hope to stop it spreading further across the site.

On Sunday 14th June and Sunday 12th July from 10 am until 1 pm we’ll be hosting a Big Chevin Balsam Bash!

We’ll meet at the Lower Shawfield Car Park and tackle the balsam growing in the surrounding areas - everyone welcome!

Find out more at the links below:

https://www.chevinforest.co.uk/events/big-chevin-balsam-bash-june-2026/

https://www.chevinforest.co.uk/events/big-chevin-balsam-bash-july-2026/

27/04/2026

Join us for the Friends of Chevin Forest Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Tuesday 5th May 2026.

We’ll meet upstairs in The Black Horse Otley from 7.30 – 9:00 pm.

We’ll present our annual reports and elect officers for the year ahead. We’ll also hear from Leeds City Council about how the Chevin could benefit from funding generated by the government’s Biodiversity Net Gain development policy.

We’d love to hear from anyone new who is interested in joining our core group – there will be time to chat with members of the group at the end of the evening.

https://www.chevinforest.co.uk/events/friends-of-chevin-forest-agm-2026/

27/04/2026

Green Hairstreak butterflies spotted on the Chevin! 😍

01/04/2026

Join us on Sunday 12th April for a morning helping to tidy up and maintain one of the Chevin's historical sites!

The Keeper’s Cottage dates back to the early 1800s and was home to the Caley Deer Park keepers. Our conservation task will be to clear some of the past few years’ vegetation that is growing on the site. Most of the work will involve using a trowel or hands to remove the vegetation, so please bring some gardening gloves if you can and any relevant tools. We will have a small supply of gloves with us if needed.

We will leave from Lower Shawfield Car Park at 10:00 am and walk for about 15 mins to the site. Alternatively, you can meet us at the site at 10:15 am. We will end at 12:45 pm to make it back to the car park at 1 pm. If the weather permits, we will pop to the Mistal Kitchen for a coffee afterwards – all are welcome!

Please see our website for more information: https://www.chevinforest.co.uk/events/conservation-task-keepers-cottage/

09/03/2026

Join us The Black Horse Otley *tomorrow* evening for this year’s Great Chevin Pub Quiz! 🍻

Form a team of up to 5 people (entry is £2.50 per person) and come along to test your knowledge – we’ll have prizes for winners and runners up.

Standard quiz set up with a scattering of Chevin-based questions – have a look around our website to learn your Chevin facts!

www.chevinforest.co.uk

Come along to The Black Horse Otley from 7.30 pm on Tuesday 10th March for this year’s Great Chevin Pub Quiz! 🍻

Form a team of up to 5 people (entry is £2.50 per person) and come along to test your knowledge – we’ll have prizes for winners and runners up.

Standard quiz set up with a scattering of Chevin-based questions – have a look around our website to learn your Chevin facts!

www.chevinforest.co.uk

24/02/2026

Come along to The Black Horse Otley from 7.30 pm on Tuesday 10th March for this year’s Great Chevin Pub Quiz! 🍻

Form a team of up to 5 people (entry is £2.50 per person) and come along to test your knowledge – we’ll have prizes for winners and runners up.

Standard quiz set up with a scattering of Chevin-based questions – have a look around our website to learn your Chevin facts!

www.chevinforest.co.uk

24/02/2026

Thanks so much for joining us The Secret Garden - Rawdon!

20/01/2026

Want to learn the difference between a sphagnum and a haircap moss? Or a crestwort and a featherwort?

If so, join us at 10.30 am on Sunday 15th February 2026 for an exploration of the bryophytes living in Chevin Forest Park!

Head to our website for more info: https://www.chevinforest.co.uk/events/bryophyte-walk-2026/

20/01/2026

New Year Quiz! 🎉

To celebrate the start of 2026, Wildlife Friendly Otley are delighted to invite you to our New Year Quiz.

❓Do you know your Dunnock from your Hedge Accentor? Can you tell a Fuzz Pig from a Hedgehog? If so, our quiz is for you (but no need to be a wildlife expert!)

There will be prizes & fun, wildlife themed questions.

📅Thursday 29th January 2026
⌚7pm doors open, quiz starts at 7.30pm
📍Sancta Cafe (1st floor, 8 Orchard Street, Otley)

Suggested £3 donation

Coffee & cakes available to buy ☕

Bring your pals - looking forward to seeing you there!

Wharfedale Naturalists Society Otley 2030

28/11/2025

Come along to The Yew Tree Inn Christmas Fair tomorrow from 2pm to get your copy of the Friends of Chevin Forest Park Calender 2026! 🎄

Featuring your photographs from around the Chevin, the calendars will be on sale for £10 each with all proceeds used to support the activities and events we run. 📷

Thanks to Mistal Kitchen for sponsorship and design support 😀